Motor vehicle



May 4, 1937. J. 'M. CHRISTMAN v15,078,932

" MOTOR VEHICLE Filed March 1'7, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l I 9 ,8 MMNVENTQR W .MMM.W

Ai'ToRN EY5 May 4, 1937. J. M. CHRISTMAN MOTOR VEHICLE Filed March 17, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 i i Z29 0190 2a 5a 94 .97

WNVENTOR ai s 0Q nfmpw ATTORNEYS ay 4, 19 J. M. CHRISTMAN 2,078,932

' MOTOR VEHICLE Filed March 1'7, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ,ZWJ. 44 z 7 7 E .INENTOR AT QRNEYS BY Wwlwl QM May 4, 1937.

J. M. CHRISTMAN 2,078,932

MOTOR VEHICLE Filed March. 17, 1955 AT onus Patented May 4, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MQ'IOI VEHICLE I John M. Christman, Detroit, Mich, assignor to PackardMotor Car Company, Detroit, Mlcla. a corporation of Michigan Application March l7, 1933, Serial No. 661,392 90min; 01. 267-20) This invention relates to motor vehicles and more particularly to improvements in vehicles of the type in which the road wheels'are independently sprung.

It is an object of the invention to provide a compact and readily serviceable unit in which the yielding means for suspending the associated vehicle wheel from the frame may be combined with a shock absorbing device for resisting sudden or violent relative vertical movement of the road wheels and vehicle frame, the construction being such that the entire vehicle load may be carried by this unit, thus eliminating the provision of additional spring devices intermediate the vehicleframe and road wheels.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a spring suspension unit of this type whichis particularly adapted for use in a vehicle in which the vehicle fenders are extended downwardly adiacent the outer face of the road wheel and terminate on a line which is substantially coextensive with the usual running-board. Alternatlvely, the application of the present construction to a motor vehicle may permit the vehicle frame to be lowered to such an extent that no runningboard is necessary, the passengers entering the vehicle body directly from the roadbed, in which event the lower edge of the fender may be' substantially flush with the lower portion of the vehicle, body. v

For instance, the outer face of the fender may be extended downwardly below --the axis of the road wheel to improve the appearance and streamlining of the vehicle. Under such circumstances it is necessary to provide means whereby the bolts which secure the conventional removable road wheel inposition may be rendered accessible for removal of the wheel, and it is a feature of the present invention that the wheel supporting unit is so constructed as to permit the road wheel to be lowered to an extent not possible with present spring suspensions. Thus when the vehicle is elevated by means of a jack the wheels may be depressed well below their normal position so that the wheel securing bolts are readily accessible.

It is a further feature of the invention to pro vide a spring suspension for the steerable road wheels in which the usual steering knuckle or the equivalent thereof maybe carried directly by the, vehicle frame so that the steering apparatus partakes of no movementwhen'the road wheels encounter obstructions resulting in relative vertical movement of the wheels and the Vehicle frame.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of a motor vehicle chassis to which the invention has been applied;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the rear portion of amotor vehicle showing the road wheel in the position which it normally occupies;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating the relative position of the vehicle body and road wheel when thelatter is being removed for replacement;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a wheel suspension unit illustrating the application thereof to the Figure 8 is a side elevation of the construction illustrated in Fi ure 4; and

Figure 9 is an-enlarged sectional view of valve mechanism shown in Figure 5.

In order to facilitate an understanding of the invention, specific reference is made herein to various elements in the embodiment of the invention selected for the p rpose oi illustration. It will nevertheless be appreciated that by the use of specific language no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, but that various alterations of the construction shown and described are contemplated such as fall within the spirit of the invention.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be observed that the vehicle frame is illustrated as comprising the usual side frame members II, and transverse frame members I! and II. The specific construction of this frame is a matter of no importance, however, so far as the present invention is concerned.

; It will be convenient to describe first the mechanism whereby the steerable road wheels at the forward end of the vehicle frame are supported for simultaneous steering movement and for relative vertical movement in response to road conditions. This mechanism comprises supporting brackets I, one being located at Each of these supporting brackets carries a steering-knuckle l8, the bracket l5 terminating in a forked portion l9 which receives the knuckle l8, and a king pin 20 passing through the bracket and the knuckle to support the latter for swinging movement in a' substantially horizontal plane.

It may be observed here that the pivotal support for the steering knuckle is shown in a simple manner since the precise construction thereof is not an important feature of the invention. For instance, while the axis of the king pin is illustrated as substantially vertical, it will be understood that in' practice this axis would be inclinedto the vertical to afford the usual caster eflect. Furthermore, although the term steering knuckle is used herein for convenience, this term is intended to cover any device or member supported for movement in a horizontal or nearly horizontal plane and adapted to carry a road wheel, so that the vehicle may be steered by movement of the knuckle.

The steering knuckle I8 is formed to provide a forwardly directed substantially longitudinally extending arm as shown more particularly in Figure 4 of the drawings and carries at its forward end a housing 2|. Thus the knuckle arm may be either integrally formed with the housing 2| or be rigidly secured thereto so that the housing partakes of steering movement with the steering knuckle l8.

By reference to-Figures 4 and 6 it will be observed that a shaft 23 is journalled as indicated at 24' within the housing for rotation about a substantially horizontal -axis, the shaft 23 extending laterally from the housing and being provided with a longitudinally extending arm 24, which is rigidly secured to the shaft for rotative movement therewith, for instance by means of a nut 25 threaded on the end of the shaft.

The free end of thearm 24 isprovided with a disk shaped portion 25' to'which may be bolted or otherwise secured the usual brake backing plate, and is also provided with a laterally extending wheel spindle 26, the latter being pref erably disposed adjacent the king pin 20 and serving to support the usual vehicle road wheel which may be journalled thereon in any conventional manner.

The arm 24 normally occupies a substantially horizontal position and means, hereinafter described,"are provided within the casing 2| to yieldingly resist swinging movement of the arm in a vertical plane and resultant oscillation of the shaft 23.

At its lower side the casing 2| is provided with a depending arm 21 to which the conventional drag link 28 is pivotally connected as indicated at 29, the drag link being in turn pivotally connected to a steering arm 30 carried by a shaft 3| extending through the side frame member ID and operable by gearing within a steering gear housing 32, the latter being disposed at the lower end of the steering column 33 and being operable from the usual steering hand wheel (not shown). a I

A cross tie rod 35 is also provided to connect the housing 2| at opposite sides of the vehicle and the knuckles I 8 which carry these housings for steering movement in unison, for instance the rod 35 may be pivotally connected as indicated at 36 to the upper side of each housing and may extend across the vehicle frame.

Referring now to Figures 5, 6, and 7 illustrating the mechanism within the .hOUSing 2| for.

resisting rotation of the shaft 23, it will be seen that this shaft is provided with arms 40 and 42 which extend in opposite directions within the chamber 44, the latter serving as a fluid supply reservoir as hereinafter described. The housing 2| is also formed to provide a plurality of sub stantially horizontally disposed cylinders 45 and 46 leading from the chamber 44, those chambers having similar functions being designated by the same reference character.

In the drawings twelve of these cylinders have been shown, the cylinders being arranged in two substantially horizontal planes, one above the other, and the pairs of cylinders in each plane being opposed and substantially coaxial.

A piston 41 is operable in each of the cylinders 45 and pistons 48 reciprocate within the cylinders 46, each pair of oppositely disposed pistons 41 and 48 being connected for reciprocation, for instance by means of a rod 49 extending between and secured to or formed integrally with each piston. The outer end of each cylinder is closed by means of threaded elements 5|, and coil springs 50 are introduced in each cylinder 45 between the closure element and the piston 41 to resist outward movement of the piston. Coil springs 52 are also introduced in the cylinders 46, these springs being compressed between the pistons 48 and the inner ends of the cylinders.

The ends of the arms 40 and 42 engage the inner ends of the pistons 41 and it will be observed from Figure 5 of the drawings that rotation of the shaft 23 in a clockwise direction will effect reciprocation of the pistons in all four of the cylinders shown therein and compression of the coil springs in each of the cylinders, such clockwise rotation of the shaft 23 resulting from upward movement in a substantially vertical plane of the arm 24 and the road wheel carried thereby. It will thus be seen that the coil springs, of which twelve are shown, afford the sole support for such portion of the vehicle load as is carried by the associated road wheel.

When upward movement of the road wheel occurs,.for instance as the result of an obstruction in the road bed, the pistons 41 will be moved toward the outer ends of the associated cylinders 45 and the pistons 48 will be withdrawn from the outer ends of the cylinders 46 with the result that any fluid within the cylinders 45 will be compressed and fluid -within the cylinders 46 will be expanded.

On downward movement of the road wheel with respect to the vehicle frame the reverse of this operation will take place, fluid being compressed in the cylinders 46 by the action of the coil springs on the pistons 48, whereas fluid within the cylinders 45 will be expanded, the action of the springs being thus effectively damped. It is therefore convenient to designate the cylinders 45 which serve primarily to resist upward movement of the road wheel as compression cylinders and the cylinders 46, which function principally to resist excessively rapid expansion of the springs, as rebound cylinders, all of the pistons moving in unison and the rebound and compression cylinders functioning in opposite phase relation.

The compression cylinders 45..are in open com munication so that they function in effect as a unit. Thus the cylinders 45 disposed in the upper horizontal plane may be connected by fluid passages 55 extending through the walls defining the respective cylinders and the rebound cylinders 46 in the lower horizontal plane are connected by passages 66, as shown more particularly in Fig- 75 ure 7 of the drawings. It will be appreciated that similar communication is effected between the rebound cylinders 48 in the upper horizontal plane and between the compression cylinders in the lower horizontal'plane. Furthermore, a conduit. 58 extends between and communicates with the end compression cylinders 45 in the upper and lower horizontal planes and similarly a conduit 59 communicates with the end rebound cylinders 46 in the upper and lower horizontal planes. It will thus be seen that on upward movement of the vehicle'road wheel, fluid within all of the compression cylinders 45 will be compressed to a substantially equal extent by reason of the fact that these cylinders are all in communication whereas on downward movement of the road wheel the fluid in the rebound cylinders 46 will be compressed to an equal extent. Thus if a single passage is provided between one of the. compression cylinders and one of the rebound cylinders, fluid will be forced through the pasthis passage being enlarged intermediate its ends to form a valve chamber 6| for controlling the flow of fluid between the two sets of cylinders,

this enlarged chamber being preferably drilled from one end of the casing, the outer end of the chamber being closed by means of a threaded plug 62. It is desirable that the fluid flow between the compression and rebound I cylinders through the connecting passage 60 be so controlled as to provide the necessary resistance to movement of the pistons on the occurrence of vertical movement of the road wheels as is the customary practice in shock absorbing devices.

The desired control may be effected by valve mechanisms 68 and 69 located in theenlarged portion 6| of the passage 60, these valve mechanisms being illustrated more specifically in Figure 9 of the drawings. Thus the valve mechanism 68, which serves to control flow of fluid from the compression cylinders into the rebound cylinders may comprise a substantially cylindrical housing 19 having a radial flanged portion H at one end which normally seats against the adjacent end wall of the chamber 6|. This flanged portion "H is provided at intervals about the periphery thereof with radially extending slots 12 to afford a restricted passage for fluid. An element "14 which is likewise substantially tubular is slidably supported within the housing 10 and is urged in one direction by means of a coil spring 15, the end face 16 .of the element 14 seating in the mouth'of the passage 60- at'the left hand end of the chamber 6| as viewed in Figure 9 to normally close the passage.

Flow of fluid to the right through the interior of the element 14 is prevented by a. valve ball 19' which isadapted to engage a seat 16' formed within the element 14, this ball-floating in an enlarged recess 18 within the element 14 and being retained against displacement out of the recess by means of projections I9 formed on the element 14 adjacent its outer end.

A collar provided with a plurality of armate recesses 8| permitting the passage of fluid therethrough engages the flanged portion ll of the housing 10 and is in turn engaged by a relatively stifi coil spring 83 which maintains the I collar 88 and housing 19 normally in the position in which it is shown in Figure 9.

It will be observed from the construction thus far described that when fluid is forced from the compression cylinders and passes to the right in the passage 60, the pressure will force the element 1.4 to the right against the action of the coil spring 15, thus permitting flow of fluid through the slots 12 in the housing [0 and the openings 10 8| in the collar 80, affording a relatively restricted fluid passage.

extending flanged portion 86 and having the end face 91 thereof normally seated on the inner face 88 of the plug 62. This plug is provided with a longitudinally extending fluid passage 89 and later ally extending passages 93, the latter communicating with the adjacent portion of the passage 60. The housing is formed to receive a valve seat member 90 adjacent one end thereof, this 'valve'scat member being engaged by a valve ball 9i which is urged toward the seat by means of a coil spring 92. At the point of contact'between the seat 90 and the ball 9|, the latter is provided with a plurality of small orifices 94 which permit limited flow of fluid therethrough even though the ball 9| is properly seated, for a purpose hereinafter explained. 1

Acollar 96 provided with a plurality of armate openings 91 therein engages the flanged portion 89 of ,the housing 85 and is in turn engaged by the coil spring 83, so that the housing '85 and seat 98, as hereinbefore mentioned, fluid can be forced from the rebound to the compression cylinders only by moving the housing 85 against the action of the relatively stiff spring 93, whereas the housing 10 need not be shifted from its seat in order to permit normal fluid flow from the compression to the rebound cylinders. Thus more resistance is oifered to passage of fluid from the rebound cylinders than from the compression cylinders. It will neverthless be observed that when excessive pressures are developed in the compression cylinders, for instance as the result of sudden upward movement of the ,vehicle road wheel on encountering a large obstruction, such pressure will be sufficient to overcome the resistance of the spring 83 and force the housinglll to the left, and thus the degree of restriction to flow is reduced materially since fluid may pass between the seating portion 16 of the housing and the opening at the adjacent end of the chamber 6|. In this manner the development of excessive pressure within the compression cylinders can be avoided, together with the 1 difliculties attendant upon the development of such pressure, for instance the possible expansion and seizing of the pistons within the compression cylinders.

In. order to compensate for the wear of the pistcns and the resultant leakage of fluid therefrom, the orifices 94 hereinbefore referred to are provided. When the apparatus is first installed, these orifices permit limited flow in bothdirections around the ball 9i and this small'flow of fluid is suflicient to permit the shock absorber to function properly. As the pistons become worn, and less pressure is applied to the fluid in the working cylinders, these small orifices will likewise tend to become closed by reason of wear on the seat 90 so that approximately the same amount of fluid is caused to flow after the apparatus has been in service for some time. Thus uniformity of action of the shock absorber is secured regardless of the length of service.

"It will be noted that by means of this construction the degree of resistance offered by the valve mechanisms 68 and 69 to movement of fluid in opposite directions therethrough may be independently determined, the ball 15 permitting free movement of fluid through the element I4 from the rebound cylinders and the ball 9| yielding to permit free movement of fluid through the housing 85 from the compression cylinders. Thus the two valve elements may be initially formed to provide difierent degreesof resistance to flow in opposite directions.

As mentioned hereinbefore, the chamber 44' serves as a supply reservoir and is preferably initially filled with the working fluid. As the fluid in the system including the cylinders. and the connections therebetween is depleted owing to leakage past the pistons or otherwise, fluid is automatically withdrawn from the supply chamber 44 and introduced in the system. a This may be conveniently effected by the means shown more particularly in Figure 6 of the drawings and.. comprising a passage I communicating: with the supply chamber 44 and a passage I 0| communicating-with the passage 60, a spring pressed checkwalve I02 being interposed between the passages I00'and IOI to permit flow therethrough in one direction only. Thus the housing may be recessed to receive a threaded plug I04 having a duct I05 therein communicating with the passage I00, the spring pressed valve element I02 serving to normally close the outer end of the passage I05. As the fluid in the system including the cylinders is reduced in quantity, the pressure in the passage 60 will be correspondingly lowered and fluid'will be drawn through the communicating passages I00 and IOI into the system to automatically replenish the fluid.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3 of the draw ings, in which the support for the road wheels at the rear of the vehicle is shown, it will be appreciated that the same spring supporting and v shock absorbing unit may be employed as is illustrated in connection with the steerable road wheels. Thus the housings 2| may be secured in any convenient manner'directly to the side frame members I 0, these housings serving as a support for} the arms 24 which carry the road wheel spindles 26 on which the road wheels 34 are rotatably supported. It will be understood ings; is provided for driving .these road wheels from the usual differential gearing, which may be supported directly on the vehicle frame.

The employment of an individual wheel suspension such as that disclosed herein and the resultant elimination of springs between the ve-" hicle frame and body makes it possible to support the vehicle body directly on the frame and thus the body may be lowered to such an extent to the vehicle frame in the upward that suitable shafting, not shown in the drawthat the usual running-board may be eliminated if desired. The rear fender H0 is preferably formed so as to extend across the entire upper portion of the road wheel and is illustrated in the drawings with the lower edge III thereof disposed substantially flush with the lower edge 2 of the vehicle body and forming in effect a continuation of the lower body line. While this construction improves the appearance of the vehicle by concealing to a large extent the vehicle wheel which is frequently coated with mud and grease under ordinary conditions of service, and further improves the streamlining of the vehicle and reduces wind resistance, it offers difficulties I in practice since the bolts H5 which are used to secure the conventional replaceable road wheel in position are not readily accessible and it is furthermore dimcult to remove the wheel even after the bolts are withdrawn.

To obviate this difficulty the present invention contemplates a modification of the wheel support whereby it is possible to'drop the vehicle wheel much further than has been permitted heretofore. Thus it will be seen by reference to Figure 5 of the drawings that the wall of the chamber is cut away as indicated at II8 on either side of the shaft 23 to permit the arms 40 and 42 to swing through arcuate paths of nearly 90, it being observed that the arms 40 and 42 are not secured to the cylinders 41 but merely engage the latter to move the cylinders in one direction only. Thus when a jack I20 is placed under the vehicle frame and the vehicle is elevated, the wheel may swing down freely to the position in which it is shown in Figure 3, and even further if necessary, to provide access to the bolts H5 and to permit the wheels to be readily removed from beneath the fender II0,

the arms and 42 moving into the recesses H8 in the wall of the chamber 44. It is of course desirable that the downward movement of the wheel be limited so that on continued elevation of the vehicle the wheel to be removed may be lifted above the road surface. For this purpose the recesses II8 are so formed as to present abutments I2I which serve to engage and limit the movement of the arms 40 and 42.

Thus after the vehicle has been jacked up to an extent suflicient to permit the arms 40 and 42 to move into engagement with the abutments I2 I, further elevation of the vehicle effects re moval of the road wheel from the road surface.

When the vehicle is again lowered, the wheels move upwardly to the position shown in Figure 2, and the arms 40 and 42 move into abutting relation with the pistons 41, it being appreciated that the weight of the vehicleis at all times sufficient to maintain engagement between these arms and the associated cylinders.

The shock absorber unit described herein affords the maximum yielding support for the vehicle load in a housing of minimum dimensions,

all of the coil springs functioning to resist vertical movement of the road wheel with respect rection only. It is important to note that the unit is so constructed as to facilitate production, the principal passages in the housing, including all of the cylinders, lying in parallel planes.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a combined shock absorber an spring suspension unit for vehicle wheels, the oombination with a housing formed to provide a plurality of cylinders arranged in two groups extending in superposed, substantially horizontal planes the cylinders in each group being opposed, of pistons operable synchronously in the opposed cylinders in each group, actuating means associated with the pistons in each group for moving each piston in one direction only, springs acting on'the pistonsin each group to move the same in the opposite direction only, and means affording restricted communication between the opposed cylinders. V

2. In a combined shock absorber and spring suspension unit for vehicle wheels, the combination-with a housing formed to provide a plurality of cylinders arranged in two groups extending in superposed, substantially horizontal planes, the cylinders in each group being opposed, of pistons operable synchronously in the opposed cylinders in each group, actuating means associated with the pistons in each group for moving each piston in one direction only, springs acting on the pistons in each group to move the same in the opposite direction only; means for positively limiting movement of said actuating means in said last named direction; and means aflordmg restricted communication between the opposed cylinders.

3. In a combined shock absorberand spring suspension unit for vehicle wheels, the combination with a housing formed to provide a plurality of cylinders arranged in two groups extending in superposed, substantially horizontal planes, the cylinders in each group being opposed, of pistons operable in said cylinders, the pistons in opposed cylinders in each group being connected for reciprocation whereby such cylinders function in opposite phase relation, actuating means for effecting reciprocation of the pistons V in the cylinders in the two groups in opposite directions, means aflording free communication between cylinders of like phase relation in the two groups, and means'aifording restricted cornmunication between cylinders of opposite phase relation to offer resistance to passage of fluid therebetween."

4. In a combined shock absorber and spring suspension unit foryehicle wheels, the combination with a housing formed to provide a plu-.

rality of cylinders arranged in two groups extending in superposed, substantially horizontal planes, the cylinders in each group being opposed, of pistons operable in said cylinders, the pistons in opp ed cylinders in each group being connected for reciprocation whereby such cylinders function in opposite phase relation, actuating means for'eifecting reciprocation of the pistons in the cylinders in the two groups in opposite directions, means affording free communication between cylinders of like phase relation in' the two groups, means a'fl'ording restricted communication between cylinders of opposite phase relation to offer resistance to passage of fluid therebetween, and a device associated with said last named means and operable in response to excessive pressure in certain of said cylinders for reducing the resistance oflered by said last named means to passage of fluid.

tion in the two groups, and means afio'rding restricted communication between cylinders of opposite phase relation to offer resistance to passage of fluid therebetween.

6. In a combined shock absorber'and spring suspension unit for vehicle wheels, the combination with a housing formed to provide a plurality of cylinders arranged in two-groups extending in superposed, substantially horizontal'planes, the

cylinders in each group being opposed, of pistons operable in said cylinders, the pistons in opposed cylindersin each group being connected for reciprocation whereby such cylinders function in opposite phase relation, actuating means for effecting reciprocation of the pistons in the cylinders in the two groups in opposite directions, said actuating means comprising a shaft journalled in said housing for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane intermediate. the planes of the groups' of cylinders and a two armed lever carried by said shaft and operatively associated with the cylinders of each group, each arm of said lever operatively engaging one of the pistons in each group tomove the latter in one direction only, springs in certain of said cylinders for moving the pistons in the opposite direction only, means afiording free communication between cylinders of like phase relation; in the two groups, and means affording restricted communication between cylinders of opposite phase relation to offer resistance to passage of fluid therebetween.

7. In -a combined shock absorber and spring suspension unit for vehicle wheels, the combination with a housing formed to provide a plurality of cylinders arranged "in two groups extending in superposed, substantially horizontal planes, the cylinders in each group being opposed, of pistons operable in said cylinders, the pistons in opposed cylinders in each group being connected for reciprocation whereby such cylinders function in opposite phase relation, actuating means for effecting reciprocation of the pistons in the cylinders in the two groups in opposite directions, said actuating means comprising a shaft journalled in said housing for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane intermediate the planes of the groups of cylinders and a two armed lever carried by said shaft and operatively associated with the cylinders in each group, each arm of said lever operatively engaging one of the pistons in each group to move the latter in one direction only, springs in certain of said cylinders for moving the pistons in the opposite direction only, said lever being movable in said last named direction out of operative engagement with said pistons, means for limiting .such movementof said lever, means afiording free communication between cylinders of like phase relation in the two groups, and means affording restricted communication between cylinders of opposite phase relation to offer resistance to passage of fluid therebetween.

8. In a shock absorbing and spring suspension unit, the combination with a housing, said housing being formed to provide substantially hori zontallv disposed cylinders, said cylinders being disposed in two groups, one above the other, the cylinders in each group being opposed, of pistons operable in the opposed cylinders in each group in unison, coil springs'in the cylinders 01' each group adapted to urge the pistons associated with each group of cylinders in the same direction and to urge the pistons associated with the cylinders of the two groups in opposite directions, an actuating arm for simultaneously moving the pistons of both groups against the action of the springs, means affording free communication between all cylinders of like phase relation, and means affording restricted communication between all cylinders of opposite phase relation.

9. In a shock absorbing and spring suspension tons of both groups against the action of the springs.

JOHN m cams-rum. 

